Coffee brewing device



Feb. 4, 1941. c, M. NEVIUS COFFEE BREWING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1939 III-.V llllllirln'lilldnllllli/ Patented Feb. t, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT (OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to coflee brewing devices, of the steam, vacuum type and of the general characteristics described and claimed in my co-pending application filed December 28,

1936, under Serial No. 117,928, in which upper and lower receptacles are associated with a means forming a seal therebetween for the upper edge-of the lower receptacle and with the pouring means of the lower receptacle during the brewing operation, the sealing means being movable while in sealing contact with the lower receptacle to uncover the pouring means, so that, with or without holding means for holding the upper receptacle and the sealing means against accidental displacement relative to the lower receptacle, the two receptacles may be tilted as a unit to pour from the lower receptacle after the ill brewing operation has been completed. Such a' coffee brewing device is also characterized by a 20 tubular member which depends in the lower receptacle and which is effective in the heat controlled transfer of fluid to and fro between the upper and lower receptacles.

More particularly, the present invention,

25 though dealing with a coffee brewing device of the above characteristics, proposes a specifically improved structural form and arrangement to enable, as a primary object thereof, the practical manufacture of the same of glass, that is, glass 30 of a low coefilcient' of expansion, such, for instance, as commonly known as heat-resistantglass.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a coffee brewing device which when so made will be capable of ready, easy handling,

which may be maintained at all times in a cleanly, highly sanitary condition, with minimum effort, and which will produce a natural, untainted brew conserving all of the flavor and essence of 40 the coffee berry. r

With the above general objects in mind; the present invention may be better understood and more thoroughly appreciated in the course of the following detailed description of the construc- ,tion, arrangementv and operation of its various parts, and by reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improve 50 coffee brewing device.

taken therethrough substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 .is a central vertical sectional view 55' taken therethrough at right angles to the section Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of Figure 2 and showing a slightly modified con-, struction.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing a modified arrangement of the sealing ring between the cooperating flange portions of the 5 intermediate sealing member and the top of the coffee receptacle.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the device, illustrating a modified construction, and

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4: illustrating another slight modification.

In my above-mentioned application, various specific forms of construction were outlined, all, however, involving the use of an upper coffee holding receptacle located above the sealing member between such receptacle and the lower fluid receptacle, with the result that when pouring from the complete device, after a brewing operation, the upper receptacle is substantially above the pouring spout or means.

According to the present invention, the upper coffee receptacle depends within the lower fluid receptacle through the sealing means and is either engaged or made integral at its upper portion with the sealing member, so that it need project but slightly above the pouring spout or means when the device is manipulated as a unit to pour from the lower receptacle after the brewing operation.

Thus, in the present instance, I have shown the fluid receptacle as having a lower bowl-like fluid holding portion Ill and an upstanding tubular portion or neck ll provided with a pouring spout l2 formed in the wall thereof so that it communicates at its lower end with the lower fluid holder I0 and opens at its upper end flush with the upper flared edge I I of the neck or upstanding cylindrical portion ll, whereby the upper edges of the latter and the pouring spout or 49 other means l2 may be simultaneously ground to promote sealing contact with the sealing member to be hereinafter further described.

Around the lower receptacle, and preferably positioned around the lower portion of the upstanding cylindrical part II, is fixedly positioned a supporting band IS, a portion of which embraces the lower part of the pouring spout I2, and a diametrically opposite portion of which serves as an anchor for a handle l4 approximately of inverted U-shape with its longer outer arm depending to provide a grasping portion l5 and with its inner portion shaped to conform to the contour between and along the adjacent portions of the cylindrical part II and the lower bowl-like fluidholder W of the lower receptacle, this part of the handle being secured to an offset portion of the band l3 by a transversely disposed connecting bolt or fastening member l6. At diametrically, opposite points, preferably midway between its handle and pouring spout embracing portions, the band I3 is provided with rigid outstanding studs H for a purpose which will presently appear.

The upper coffee receptacle is, generally speaking, of the cylindrical form shown at It! and of a diameter less than the inside diameter of the cylindrical upstanding part or neck ll of the lower receptacle. The upper receptacle, which is thus adapted to depend within the lower receptacle, has its bottom I9 provided centrally thereof with a depending stem in the form of a hollow tube 20, which opens at its upper end into the upper receptacle and which opens at its lower end within the fluid holder of the lower receptacle at a point substantially above the base of the latter.

With the upper receptacle, a filter generally indicated at 2| is utilized, and this filter seats on the bottom I9, preferably with a guiding protuberance 22 upon its lower face depending slightly within the fluid channel forming stem 20. This filter which prevents the ground coffee from dropping from the upper receptacle i3 into the lower receptacle III, while permitting the free transfer of fluid between the receptacles, has an upstanding rod or stem 23 projectingvertically and axially through the upper receptacle to a point slightly .above the upper edge of the latter, in order that it may be engaged by the central portion of a holding or clamping member shown in thelform of a strip 24 of any suitable material, the ends of which are preferably provided with key-hole slots 25 effectively engaging the headed studs I! of the supporting band l3. The side portions of this strip are also preferably formed to provide for lengthwise extension or elasticity and may for this purpose be corrugated as indicated at 26.

The sealing member is preferably in the form of a fiatcircular strip 21 centrally apertured tosurround the upper receptacle l8 and having its lower surface ground to form a fluid-tight joint with the upper ground edge of the lower receptacle. This sealing member is provided at diametrically opposite points with slight protuberances or extensions 28 and 29, the latter of which is positioned in use above the handle l4 and the former of which, during the brewing operation, overlies and closes in fluid -tight relation the upper open end of the spout or pouring means l2 of the lower receptacle and is, for this purpose, provided with a ground lower'surface the same as that of the body of the sealing member, it being understood that, by grasping the finger piece or projection 29 above the handle, the sealing member may be shifted rotatably to displace its spout covering portion 28 so as to uncover the upper end of the pouring spout or other means l2, permitting pouring from the lower receptacle after the brewing operation.

According to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the sealing plate or ring 21 has a short upstanding neck portion 30 provided with an upper outwardly flaring edge edge 32 of the'upper receptacle l8 seats on the I flaring upper edge 3| of the sealing ring 21, pressure of the holder 24 through stem 23 of the filter member 2| downwardly upon the upper receptacle serving to hold the thus engaging flaring edges 32 and 3| in snug contact. The adjacent faces of these flaring edges 32 and 3| may be ground to form a'fluid-tight contact joint, as contemplated in Figures 1 and 2, and, whether plain or ground for this purpose, these contacting edge portions 32 and 3| may be sealed by a sealing ring 33 and 33 as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 3* respectively. On the other hand, the flared upper portions of the inner receptacle and the sealing member maybe welded or fused together at 34 in Figure 4, where the upper receptacle l8 and the sealing ring 21 thus become in effect a single piece and the general unit becomes a two-piece rather than a three-piece construction. In other words, leaving out of consideration the handle, holding means and filter, theunit embodies but two parts, namely, the outer receptacle constituting one piece, and the permanently jointed sealing member and upper receptacle constituting the other part; It is furthermore possible that instead of providing the sealing member with an upstanding neck portion, the inner receptacle, such as shown at IS in Figure 5, may have a substantially thickened upper portion above the sealing ring 21. This thickened portion is indicated .t 35 and provides an annular shoulder to seat onthe sealing ring 21 so that, if a threeplece unit is desirable, ,the engaging faces of ring 21 and the shoulder of the upper receptacle may be ground to form a fluid-tight joint like the engaging surfaces of the sealing ring and the upper edge of the lower receptacleL Similarly, if a two-piece construction is preferred, it is obvious the surface of the shoulder of the upper portion 35 of the upper receptacle It in Figure 5 may be fused or welded to the upper inner portion of the sealing ring 21 or in fact the upper portion 35 maybe formed integral with the sealing member 21;

The operation of all of the above-described forms is the same, the upper receptacle, after assembly of the parts, receiving the ground coffee and holding the same above the fluid holder of the lower receptacle until, upon the application of heat, the fluid in the lower receptacle boils and, due to the increased pressure, passes upwardly through the tubular channel 20 into the upper receptacle. During this, the brewing operation, the sealing member maintains a fluidtight seal at the upper edge of the lower receptacle and also across the mouth of the spout or pouring means of the latter receptacle.

When, upon reduction of heat, the fluid falls again into the fluid holder of the lower receptacle,

the sealing means may be rotatably shifted to uncover the pouring means or, in other words, the upper end of the pouring spout l2, and, since the several parts are maintained against displacement by the holding means 24, the brewed fluid may be poured from the lower receptacle by tilting the several parts as a unit with the aid of the handle l4.

This construction particularly lends itself to the use of heat-resistant glass, and it is obvious that with the use of such a material it is not only an easymatter to maintain the several parts in a cleanly, sanitary condition atall times, but it is assured that without metal coming in contact with the brew at any time the latter will embody the full, natural flavor of the coffee employed.

It will be understood that the sealing member 21 may be eliminated. if desired, and that in such 5 an event the flange 32 at the top of the upper receptacle i8 would have a ground' surface on the under side and seat directly upon the ground upper edge of the lower receptacle. In such an arrangement, the flange 32 would be preferably 10 extended laterally slightly circumferentially in'a horizontal direction to present a flat ground face for engagement with the upper ground edge of the lower receptacle after the fashion of the engagement of the sealing ring 21 with the ground face at the upper edge of the lower receptacle. The slight horizontal extension of the flanges of the receptacles permits slight lateral movement of the upper receptacle within the lower receptacle without breaking the seal between the two receptacles incident to relative lateral movement of the receptacles.

It will also be understood that under certain conditions, the device is operable without the holding means illustrated and described as well as with the'same. Assume that surface water level while brewing is six inches lower in the coffee or water receptacle than in the upper brewing receptacle. There is a hydrostatic 'difference of approximately one-sixtieth of atmospheric pressure, or about one-quarter pound per square inch. Assume a four-square-inch area for the top of the cofiee receptacle. This would mean a lifting eii'ect of about one pound under the brewing or upper receptacle. Therefore, if the brewing receptacle weighs more than one pound,

it will not be lifted from sealing position. As a matter of fact, considering weight of contents it could weigh less than one pound and still maintain a seal. In such case, gravity is the holding means.

What is claimed is:

1. A steam vacuum coilee brewing device comprising a fluid receptacle having an upper cylindrical neck portion terminating in an upper open top and having a pouring means open at said top, a cofiee receptacle depending through said neck portion and in communication at its bottom with the fluid receptacle for the transfer of fluid under pressure control to and fro between said receptacles, a sealing member disposed and extending around the open top of the fluid receptacle and embracing the upper part of the cylindrical neck portion of the fluid receptacle and shiitable while in sealing contact therewith'to cover and un- 55 cover the pouring means, said sealing member and the upper portion or the coffee receptacle having outwardly flared overlapping edge portions, a sealing ring engaging said overlapping portions, and means for normally holding the two receptacles and said sealing member against accidental displacement relative to one another. 5

2. A steam vacuum coiiee brewing device comprising a fluid receptacle open at its top and having an outwardly flared edge thereat and also having a pouring means, a coffee receptacle mounted in the fluid receptacle and at its upper 10 end having an outwardly flared edge, and an annular member interposed between said receptacles and having spaced upper and lower outwardly directed flanges, the lower flange thereof being movably disposed on the upper edge or the fluid 15 receptacle and extending over the mouth of the pouring means and having shiftable sealing contact with the upper edge or the fluid receptacle and with the mouth or the pouring means, the upper edge of the coffee receptacle overhanging 20 the upper flange of the annular member.

3. A steam vacuum coffee brewing device comprising a fluid receptacle open at its top and provided with an outwardly directed flange at the upper edge thereof and also having a pouring 25 means, a cofiee receptacle mounted in the fluid receptacle and having an outwardly directed flange at its upper edge, and an annular member embracing the upper portion of the mice receptacle andhaving spaced upper and lower out- 30 wardly directed flanges, the lower flange being movably disposed on the upper flanged edge of the fluid receptacle and extending over the mouth of the pouring means and having shiftable sealing contact with the upper edge of the fluid recep- 35 tacle and the mouth of the pouring means, the upper flanged edge of the coil'ee receptacle overhanging the flange of the annular member.

4. A steam vacuum coflee brewing device comprising a fluid receptacle open at its top and 40' having an outwardly flared edge thereat and also having a pouring means, a coifee receptacle mounted in the fluid receptacle, and a cylindrical member interposed between said receptacles. and surrounding the upper portion of the cofl'ee receptacle and having a lower outwardly directed flange movably disposed on the upper edge of the fluid receptacle and extending over the mouth of the pouring mea' l and having shiitable sealing contact with the upper edge of the fluid receptacle and the mouth of the pouring means, and sealing means between the upper portion or the cylindrical member and the upper portion of the mice receptacle.

CONDICT M. NEVIUS.

CERTIFlCATE 0F comcnon; Patent No. 2,250,901. February 1519111.

' CONDICT n.- NEVIUS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above nombered' patent. requiring correction as follows: Page 5 first column line 50 claim 1, after the woIfd "disposed" insert -on-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereih that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. si gnedjand s'ealed this 14th day of ndrch, 1). 191a.

Henry Von Airedale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

